[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 156 (Thursday, September 26, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5752-S5753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 344--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR A CREDIBLE, INCLUSIVE, 
 AND TRANSPARENT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN AFGHANISTAN ON SEPTEMBER 28, 
                                  2019

  Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Graham, Mr. Coons, Ms. 
Ernst, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Reed, and Mr. Risch) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 344

       Whereas Afghanistan will hold a presidential election on 
     September 28, 2019, in which the citizens of Afghanistan will 
     have an opportunity to participate;
       Whereas, according to the United Nations Population Fund, 
     63.7 percent of the people of Afghanistan are under 25 years 
     of age, reflecting the need for a fully functioning and 
     transparent government to administer and provide services to 
     the youth of Afghanistan, who are facing significant 
     challenges related to health, education, and employment;
       Whereas, in the last parliamentary election in 2018, more 
     than 3,000,000 people in Afghanistan exercised the democratic 
     right to

[[Page S5753]]

     choose the individuals who would represent the people of 
     Afghanistan in parliament;
       Whereas Afghanistan has made significant progress on human 
     rights, including the rights of women and minorities, which 
     are enshrined in the constitution of Afghanistan and further 
     protected by the participation of the people of Afghanistan 
     in democratic elections;
       Whereas free and fair elections are a fundamental part of a 
     strong democracy and allow the citizens of a country to 
     exercise full civil, political, and human rights;
       Whereas a credible electoral process is necessary for 
     citizens of a country to trust in the democratic institutions 
     and political leaders of that country;
       Whereas elections should serve as peaceful processes 
     through which the will of the voters is expressed and 
     political power is transferred or reaffirmed;
       Whereas the people of Afghanistan will go to the polls to 
     exercise their democratic right to vote amid heightened 
     threats and attacks by the Taliban;
       Whereas the Taliban has targeted campaign rallies, 
     candidates, and election events, resulting in 48 deaths on 
     September 17, 2019, alone;
       Whereas, since 2001, the United States has invested 
     significantly in efforts to bring security and stability to 
     the region, accounting for more than $800,000,000,000 in 
     efforts that include--
       (1) helping to rebuild Afghanistan, including efforts to 
     rebuild and reform the institutions of Afghanistan; and
       (2) helping to defend the rights of the people of 
     Afghanistan;
       Whereas, since 2001, more than 775,000 members of the Armed 
     Forces of the United States have been deployed to 
     Afghanistan, of which--
       (1) more than 20,500 have been wounded; and
       (2) more than 2,400 have died while serving;
       Whereas the international community has also made critical 
     investments in democratic processes and institutions in 
     Afghanistan;
       Whereas the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (referred to 
     in this preamble as ``NATO'') invoked Article V of the North 
     Atlantic Treaty for the first time in history in the wake of 
     the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001;
       Whereas, since the date on which NATO invoked Article V of 
     the North Atlantic Treaty, the longest and most challenging 
     mission of NATO has been in commanding the International 
     Security Assistance Force mandated by the United Nations--
       (1) beginning in August 2003 and ending in December 2014; 
     and
       (2) which, at its largest, comprised more than 130,000 
     troops from 50 NATO allies and partner countries;
       Whereas, in January 2015, NATO launched the Resolute 
     Support Mission, which comprises approximately 17,000 troops 
     from 39 NATO allies and partner countries as of September 
     2019;
       Whereas the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces 
     will have responsibility for providing security for the 
     presidential election in Afghanistan on September 28, 2019;
       Whereas, despite threats from the Taliban, people across 
     Afghanistan are risking their lives to support, administer, 
     and secure democratic election operations, including--
       (1) 13,000 women and men who are serving as independent 
     election observers;
       (2) 50,000 citizens of Afghanistan who have signed up to be 
     poll watchers from the political parties; and
       (3) more than 200 members of the independent media who have 
     been accredited to cover and report on the campaigns and 
     election processes; and
       Whereas a democratically elected and legitimate government 
     that reflects the will of the people of Afghanistan is in the 
     security interests of Afghanistan and the allies of 
     Afghanistan, including the United States: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses support for a credible, inclusive, and 
     transparent presidential election in Afghanistan on September 
     28, 2019;
       (2) commends the people of Afghanistan for their commitment 
     to democracy, the rule of law, and free and fair elections;
       (3) condemns all threats against the administration of free 
     and fair democratic elections, including all acts of 
     terrorism designed to depress turnout and intimidate voters; 
     and
       (4) reaffirms the commitment of the United States 
     Government to peace and stability in furtherance of a 
     democratic Afghanistan.

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